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New cash boost for Clapham

Clapham has been handed another boost with a cash grant to make the area smarter and safer.

A raft of measures to improve Clapham High Street includes employing night wardens and taxi marshals to look after late night revellers and enhancing the High Street.

After consulting local businesses, Lambeth Council is to spend £60k – money left over from the development of Clapham’s new leisure centre, library, and health centre – on improving the look and feel of the area.

The pilot scheme will see wardens monitoring the High Street on Friday and Saturday nights in an effort to reduce low level crime and anti-social behaviour.

Taxi marshals will also be present to ensure late night drinkers get home safely and use properly licensed cabs.

Cllr Pete Robbins, Lambeth Cabinet member for Housing and Regeneration, said: “This is yet more positive news to come out of the Clapham One development.

“These improvements will really enhance the way people feel about the area – during the day and at night.

“The night wardens will help people have a safe and enjoyable time when they are out in Clapham, especially young women who are often vulnerable to unlicensed taxis.”

Money will also be used to smarten up vacant shop units, improve street furniture, plant trees and other greenery as well as financial support for the Night Time Hub at Clapham Methodist Church, Clapham Omnibus arts centre and Clapham Pottery classes.

The council was initially given £200k by the Clapham One developers Cathedral to help mitigate the effects of its closure while a new centre was built.

Of that money, £60k remains and was the council this week gave the go ahead to use spend it on the improvement projects.